Thai spikers suffer first defeat at hands of hosts Korea
Asian champions and world No.12 Thailand went down to hosts South Korea in hard-fought three-set thriller 21-25 20-25 21-25 in their second Pool A encounter in the 17th Asian Games women's volleyball competition at the Songnim Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Thailand, which have never won a medal in the Asian Games history, sent a formidable line-up led by hard-attacking Onuma Sittirak, Pluemjit Thinkaow and Wilavan Apinyapong, while Korea, world No.7 and silver medallists at the recent AVC Cup in Shenzhen, China, were strong with the likes of talented Kim Yeon-Koung, the only Korean player in European League.
Thailand tried hard to overcome the taller blockers with their aggressive attacks, but the splendid teamwork and consistency of Korea paid off handsomely in this match. Thailand lost in straight sets to the fired-up hosts to suffer their first defeat in Incheon. Captain Wilavan Apinyapong scored a match-high 16 points for Thailand, while Kim Yeon-Koung led Korea with 22 points including 17 kills and four blocks.
With the loss, Thailand dropped to the second place in Pool A with three points from one win against one loss. On Wednesday, Thailand will play their last group round-robin preliminary match against India at 1pm local time (11am Bangkok time).
